Labeling machine attachment



April 6, 1938. F. 1.. DARLING LABELING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 19,1932 5 Shets-Sheet l Ear/kl. Zhr/k; Q

April 26, 1938. F. L. DARLING LABELING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 19,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 26, 1938. F. DARLING LABELING MACHINEATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 19, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M WM L. M W W 7 j m T 1T g Z f I W Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES LABELING MACHINEATTACHMENT Frank L. Darling, Baltimore, Md., assignor to 7 Anchor Cap &Closure Corporation, Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 19, 1932, Serial No. 648,013

38 Claims.

The present invention relates to labeling machines, and moreparticularly to means for insuring the labels being applied topredetermined portions of the containers.

In applying a label to a container of the type such as shown in myco-pending application Serial No. 648,014, filed December 19, 1932, itis desirable that the label be applied so as to cover the depression inthe body of the container and the handle portion of the cap remover oropener.

It is, therefore, one of the important features of the present inventionto provide a labeling machine with means for applying or affixing alabel to a predetermined portion of the container, so that eachcontainer will be presented to the label applying device with apredetermined portion thereof always in the same position to receive thelabel.

A further object is to provide means associated 20 with the infeedspider of a labeling machine for arresting the rotary movement of thecontainer at a fixed point, so that each .container will be advanced tothe label applying device with a predetermined portion thereof arrangedto re- 25 ceive the label, irrespective ofwhat position this portion ofthe container may assume prior to its delivery to the infeed spider.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for insuring a labelbeing applied to a predetermined portion of the container, which meansmay be in the form of an attachment that may be conveniently andeconomically mounted on any of the well known types of infeed spiders.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for causingthe containers as they are received by the infeed spider to be rotatedin a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the spider.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanyingclaims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in which is shown.

Figure 6 is a detailed view of parts of the machine.

Figure 7 is a side view of the container showing the label appliedthereto in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 8--8 of Figure '7.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like partsin the several views, In indicates the stationary base of the labelingmachine on which is revolubly mounted by the shaft II, the table orcarrier 12. The infeed spider I3 is positioned to carry or transfer thecontainers I 4 from the infeed conveyor IE to the revoluble table l2where the container is received by one of the rests or stationaryuprights I6 secured to the table by the bolts l1.

A label applying device including the spaced long arms or pickers l8 andthe short arms l9 (Fig. 2) is mounted on a horizontally disposed .shaft20 located above the table l2. A roller 2| journalled between the shortarms l9 engages a cam 22 carried by the shaft 23 so that the pickers I8may swing downwardly from the bottom of the label holder 24 to itsvertical position to apply the label to the container in the manner asshown in Figure 2. The pickers 18 may be detachably connected to theshaft 20 to permit difierent sizes to be attached to the shaft,depending upon the size and width of the containers to which the labelis to be applied. A spring 25 connected as at 26 to one of the arms l9,has its opposite end connected to a fixed portion .01 the machine notshown, so as to normally urge the fingers l8 to their vertical position,while, the cam 22 is so shaped, that it acts to control the time ofmovement of the pickers and swing them up to the label holder againstthe action of the spring 25. V

The table l2 may be provided 'with a series of curved openings 21(Fig. 1) in which are movably mounted the gripping devices 28 thatcorrespond in number with the number of rests lfiand coact therewith forholding the bottle and label after the latter is applied and until thecontainer is discharged from the machine through the outfeed spider 29.Wipers 30 are positioned so as to smooth and amx the labels upon thesurface of the container as the latter passes from the label applyingdevice towards the outlet feed spider 29.

In order that a container 14 such as a jar, bottle or the like may havea label applied to a predetermined portion thereof by a labelingmachine, means are provided which may be readily and convenientlymounted on the infeed spider l3 to insure each container being presentedto the labeling device with the same portionor surface thereofpositioned to receive the label. This means may comprise a, plate ormember 3| (Fig. 3) which preferably has opposed arcuate slots 32 forreceiving the clamping bolts 33 that extend from the gate cam 34 on theinfeed spider l3. Manifestly the cam 34 which is usually mounted on theinfeed spider may be dispensed with and the plate 3| directly connectedto the spider.

they are delivered to the pockets. -ward swinging movement of the upperportion The infeed spider I3 has the spaced upper and lower plates 35and 33, respectively, which are provided with the pockets or cut-awayportions 31 (Fig. 3) for singly receiving the containers as'they issuefrom the infeed conveyor 15, so as to transfer them to the table II atfixed intervals. While three of these pockets are shown it will beobvious that any number may be employed. l

The plates 35 and 34 are preferably provided adjacent the pockets 31with rollers 33 that en-. gage the containers when they are. deliveredto the spider l3, while the lower plate 36 adjacent one end of each ofthe pockets 31 has an outwardly extending finger 33 for separating theadvanced or forward container from'the adjacent container in theconveyor ll.

The plate 3| may be provided with outwardly extending spaced arms 44which correspond in number to the number of pockets 31 in the infeedspider l3. Each of the arms 40 hasv pivotally mounted thereon aperipherally disposed depending finger or member 4| as at 42, arrangedto extend down into the path of the containers as The downof each of thefingers 4| is limited by a stop 43 which engages the arm 40, while thelower portion of each of the fingers is normally urged toward the left,(Fig. 4) by means of a spring 44 which is connected at one end to theupper portion of the finger 4| and has its opposite extrem- .cap remover41, so that the label 4! may be applied to the body of the containermedially relative to the depression 43 and cover the same in the manneras shown in Figure 7; the contain- .ers H are conducted in any suitablemanner, to

the conveyor I! after having previously been filled and the cap or cover49 applied thereto. As the forward container reaches the infeed spiderl3, it is brought into frictional and binding engagement with a thinstrap 50 preferably of metal, that is connected atone end to the curvedwall of the conveyor and has its opposite end secured to a coil spring5|, which in turn is connected as at I2 to the inner wall of theconveyor. At 'the same time the forward container is received by one ofthe pockets 31 and is separated from the adjacent container by the arm39 (Fig. 1). 'Due to'the binding frictional engagement of the straprollers 30 therewith, the container will rotate in III with thecontainer and theengagement of the the pocket 31 in a direction oppositeto the direction of rotation of the spider I3 until one of the fingers4| engagesthe depression 43, whereupon the rotary motion of thecontainer is arrested. The container is then carried by the spider l3 tothe revoluble table I! where his received taine'r has been transferredby one of the rests l6 and the label48 applied to the body thereof bythe pickers |8 which are suitably spaced apart to permit the containerto be passed between them and be received by the movable holders 28. Asthe container reaches the table l2, the upper portion of the finger 4|engages a laterally disposed arm 53 connected at 54 to the machine so asto raise the finger out of engagement with the depression 46. This armis of sufficient length to insure the finger being maintained in itsraised position until after the conto the table 2 and the rest it.

It will be seen that the strap 50 will cause the advanced container torotate in a counter direction to that of the spider until it is stoppedby one of the fingers 4| engaging the depression 46, so that thecontainer will be in a fixed position when it is delivered to the table,thus insuring the label being applied to the samepredetermined portionof each container.

The slots 32 in the plate 3| permit the latter to be adjusted so as toalign the fingers 4| with the depressions 46 in order that rotarymovement of each container will be arrested at a predetermined point andproperly presented to the labeling device.

The various parts of the machine are operatively connected to the maindrivingmechanism, not shown, and are so synchronized that thecontainers, when the machine is in operation, will be sequentiallydelivered to the spider |3 at periodic intervals and-singly transferredto the table II so as to apply the label to a predetermined portionthereof and then carried by the table past the wipers 30 and finallydischarged through the outfeed spider 28.

It will be observed that the invention is of such a'character that itmaybe readily installed or associated with any of the well known typesof labeling machines without materially affecting or changing theoperation of the machine and at a minimum expense of time and labor.Moreover, the invention may be associated with containers or receptaclesof various kinds where it is desired to insure a portion thereof beingplaced or arranged in a predetermined position relative to anotherdevice or element. I

It is to be understood that the form of the. invention herewith shownand described is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment and thatsuch changes may be made as fall within the purview of one skilled inthe art without depart-' ing from the spirit of the invention of theappended claims.

I claim: 1. Incombination with a machine for applying labels tocontainers, the combination of a movable carrier, a movable spider fordelivering and the scope the containers to the. carrier,' and means 00--operating with said'movable spider and said carrier for presenting apredetermined portion of the container to a label applying means.

2. A rotatable infeed spider for singly delivering containers to acarrier of a labeling machine, said spider having stop means coactingwith complementary. means on the container while the container is beingdelivered to the carrier, for presenting a predetermined portion of-thecontainar to a label applying means.

3. A labeling machine for applying labels to U senting a predeterminedportion of the container to the label applying means.

5. A rotatable infeed spider for singly delivering the containers to alabeling machine, means adjacent said spider for producing rotation ofthe container, and means on the spider arranged to engage a depressionin the container for presenting a predetermined portion of the containerto a label applying means.

6. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containers, arevoluble carrier, a rotatable infeed spider singly delivering thecontainers to the carrier, means producing rotary movement of thecontainer, a plate mounted on the spider and provided with spacedmovable depending fingers, said fingers coacting with means on thecontainer for arresting rotary movement thereof, and means when thecontainer carried-by the spider is delivered to the carrier fordisengaging the finger from the container.

7. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containershaving a depression for receiving a cap remover, a revoluble carrier, arotatable infeed spider singly delivering the con tainers to thecarrier, means producing rotary movement of the container, meansapplying a label to the container over said depression, a plate mountedon the spider and provided with spaced movable depending fingersarranged to engage the depression in the container to arrest rotarymovement thereof, and means when the con-- tainer carried by the spiderreaches the carrier for disengaging the finger from the containerwhereby to insure the-label being applied to the portion of thecontainer having the depression therein.

8. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containershaving a depression, a revoluble table, a rotatable infeed spider singlydelivering the containers to the table, means producing rotary movementof the container, means applying a label to the container in apredetermined position with respect to the depression, a plate mountedon the spider having spaced movable members arranged to engage thedepression in the container to arrest rotary movement of the latter asit is being conducted to the table to permit said label applying meansto apply the label to said predetermined portion, and means in the pathof the movable members for disengaging each member from the containerwhen the latter reaches the table.

9. A device of the class described, the combination of a revolubletable, a rotatable infeed spider singly delivering containers to thetable, a yieldable strap connected to the machine adjacent the spiderand engaging the containers for imparting a rotary movement to thecontainers in a direction opposite to that of the spider to position thecontainer for the application of a label to a ,predetermined portionthereof, and means for applying a label to said predetermined portion ofthe container.

10. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containers, arevoluble table, a rotatable infeed spider singly delivering the con-.tainers to the table, means associated with the spider and engaging thecontainers for imparting a rotary movement to the containers in adirection opposite to that of the spider, means ap plying a label to thecontainer, and means on the spider for stopping rotation of thecontainer to prevent a predetermined portion of the container to thelabel applying means.

11. A machine of the class described including in combination a rotatinginfeed spider for singly delivering containers to a label applyingmeans, means associated with the spider and engaging the containers forimparting a rotary movement to the containers in a direction opposite tothat of the spider, a label applying means, and means on the spider forarresting the movement'of the container at a predetermined point,whereby to insure the label being applied to a predetermined portion ofthe container.

12. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containershaving a depression, a revoluble table, ,a movable infeed spider singlydelivering the containers to the table, yieldable means connected to themachine adjacent the spider and engaging the containers for imparting arotary movement to the containers in a direction opposite to that of thespider, means applying a label to the container, and means on the spiderarranged to engage the depression in the container for arresting itsrotary movement, whereby to insure the label being applied to apredetermined portion of the container.

13. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containershaving a depression for receiving a cap remover, a revoluble table, arotatable infeed spider singly delivering the containers to the table,yieldable means connected to the machine adjacent the spider andengaging the containers for imparting a rotary movement to thecontainers in a direction opposite to that of the spider, a platemounted on the spider, said plate having spaced dependingfingers movablyconnected thereto and arranged'to engage the depression in the containerfor arresting its'ro tary movement, and means in the path of travel ofsaid plate for engaging said fingers to release them from engagementwith the container as the latter is delivered to the table.

14. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containershaving a depression for receiving a cap remover, a revoluble table, arotatable infeed spider singly delivering the containers to the table,yieldable means associated with the spider and engaging the containersfor imparting a rotary movement to the containers in a directionopposite to that of the spider, an adjustable plate mounted on thespider and having spaced depending movable fingers arranged to engagethe depression in the container for arresting the rotary movementthereof, andmeans in the path of said plate for engaging said fingers torelease them from engagement with the container as the latter isdelivered to the table.

15. In combination with a machine for applying labels to containers. arevoluble table, a rotatable infeed spider singly delivering thecontainers to the table, yieldable means connected to the machineadjacent the spider for imparting a. rotary movement of the container ina directionopposite to that of the spider, a plate mounted on thespider,said plate having spaced depending fingers movably connectedthereto andarranged to engage the container for arresting itsrotary\movement, means yieldably maintaining the fingers in a verticalposition, and means in the path of travel of said plate for engagingsaid fingers and releasing them from engagement with the container asthe latter is delivered to the table, whereby to insure the label beingapplied to a predetermined portion of the container.

16. A labeling machine of the class dacribed having a revoluble infeedspider for receiving a container, and means associated with the spiderfor causing the container to rotate in a direction opposite to that ofthe spider.

17. A labeling machine 01' the class described having a revoluble infeedspider for receiving a container, and yieldable means associated withthe spider for causing the container to rotate in a direction oppositeto that of the spider.

18. A labeling machine of the class described having a revoluble infeedspider for receiving a container, and a yieldable strap associated withthe spider for causing the container to rotate in a direction oppositeto that of the spider.

19. A rotatable infeed. spider for labeling machines having spacedpockets for receiving 'containers, means for producing rotary movementof the containers, and means associated with each oi. the pockets forarresting the rotary movement of the containers at a predeterminedpoint.

20. A rotatable infeed spider for labeling machines having spacedpockets for receiving containers, means for producing rotary movement ofthe containers, and a plate mounted on the spider and having dependingmembers associated with each of the pockets for arresting the rotarymovement of the containers at a predetermined point.

21. A rotatable infeed spider for labeling machines having spaced'pockets for receiving containers, means for producing rotary movement ofthe containers, and a plate mounted on the spider having dependingfingers movably connected thereto adjacent the pockets for arresting therotary movement of the containers when the containers have been turnedinto a predetermined position. J

22. Arotatable infeed spider for labeling machines having spaced pocketsfor receiving containers, means for producing rotary movement of thecontainers, a plate mounted on the spider- 23. In a labeling machine ofthe class described I having a revoluble table, a rotatable infeed.spider tation of the spider, and means for arresting the rotary movementof the container at a predetermined point, to insure'that a label isapplied to a predetermined portion thereof.

25. In combination with a rotatable infeed spider of a labeling machine,means for producing rotary movement ofa container and means associatedwith the spider for arresting rotary movement of the container at apredetermined point.

26. In combination with a rotatable infeed spider of a labeling machine,means for producing rotary movement of a container and means mounted onthe spider and coacting with the container for arresting the rotarymovement of the container when the container has been turned into apredetermined position.

2'7. In combination with a rotatable infeed spider of a labelingmachine, means for produc- 'lng rotary movement of a container and aplate into a predetermined position.

29. An infeed spider for labeling-machines having a plate, means forproducing rotary movement of a container, and means adjustablyconnecting the plate to the spider, said plate having spaced dependingmembers pivotally connected to the plate for arresting the rotarymovement of the container at a predetermined point.

30. A rotatable infeed spider for labeling machines having means forproducing rotary movement of a container, a plate, said plate providedwith spaced movable depending fingers arranged to engage the containerfor arresting the rotary movement thereof, and means yieldably main- Itaining the fingers inengagement with the container.

31. A rotatable infeed spider for labeling machines having means forproducing rotary movement of a container, a plate, said plate providedwith spaced movable depending fingers arranged to engage the containerfor arresting the rotary movement thereof, means yieldably maintainingthe fingers in engagement with the container,

and means for adjusting the plate relative to the spider.

32. In a labeling machine including a labeler and means for feedingarticles thereinto, the combination of a rotating pocketed feed turretfor transporting articles into the said labeler, means for turning thearticles while in the pockets and means on the turret for arresting therotating movements of the articles when in a predetermined positionprior to their entry into the said labeler.

33. In a labeling machine, the combination of an article feeding turret,a wall adjacent the turret and having a yieldable section thereinadapted to have frictional contact with the articles and thereby turnsaid articles while being transported by the turret and means on theturret to arrest turning of the articles when in a predeterminedposition so that said articles are uniformly presented to the labelingmechanism.

34. In a machine for applying labels to containers, a revoluble carrier,a rotating infeed spider for singly delivering containers to thecarrier, means on the carrier for applying a label to the container, andmeans cooperating with the spider for presenting a predetermined portionof the container to the label applying means.

35. In a, labeling machine comprising a labeler and means for feedingarticles to be labeled thereinto, the combination with a rotating infeedturret of means for arranging the articles in a predetermined positionprior to their entry into the labeler.

36. A labeling machine of the class described, having rotatable infeedspider singly delivering containers to a label applying means, meansadjacent the spider and engaging the containers for reversing thedirection ofrotation of the containers relative to the direction ofrotation of the spider, and means for arresting rotation of thecontainers when the containers have turned into a predeterminedposition.

37. A labeling machine of the class described, having a movable infeedmember provided with spaced pockets for receiving containers, and meansassociated withsaid member for causing the containers to rotate in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said member.

,38. A labeling machine of the class described, having a movable infeedmember provided with spaced pockets for receiving containers, meansassociated with said member for causing the containers to rotate in adirection opposite to the direction of movement of said member, andmeans associated with said member for arresting rotation of thecontainers at a predetermined point.

FRANK L. DARLING.

